Fractionating column



June 1l, 1929. R, E, WILSON ET AL 1,716,939

FRACTIONATING COLUMN Filed Jan. 51, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 11, 1929.` R. E. wlLsQN Er AL 1.716.939

FRACT IONAT ING COLUMN Filed Jan. 31, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented vJune 11,1929.

f UNITED STATES PA'ragNrol-#Flcaq ROBERT E. WILSON A NDl ROGER D. HUNNEMAN, OIE' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND WILLIAM H. BAHLXE AND FRANCIS M. ROGERS, OF WRITING, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS T STANDARD OIL COMPANY, 0F WHITING, INDIANA, A CORPORATION 0F INDIANA.

FnAcTIoNATINe coLuMN.

The present invention relates to improvements in ractionating columns, and will be fully understood from the following description thereof, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, 'in which: v

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a columnor tower embodying the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are diagrammatic sectional views showing the relative placing ofthe parts of successive plates within the tower; Fig. 4 is a sectional View on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;'

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 of Fig. 1, showing the construction of the higher plates of the column;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 7 of Fig. 6; and

' Fig. Sis a vertical sectional View on the broken line 8- 8 of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in Fig. 1 is shown apport-ion of the vertower embodying the present invention. This shell is providedwith manholes 11 arranged lin vertical rows, alternatemanholes being set at an angle to one another for the purpose hereinafter set forth. As will be pointed out, these manholes are preferably of a size such that the sections forming the plates of the column may be inserted therethrough.

Typical plates of the column are shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. The type of plate illustrated in Fig. 6 differs from those illustrated i'n Figs. 4 and 5 principally in that, in the former, fewer overflows for reflux are provided, these plates being intended for use in portions ofthe column where less overflow liquid is anticipated.

As will be seen from Figs. 5 and 7, at suitable vertical intervals within the tower the circular flanges 12 are secured to its inner walls. and on these are mounted the sections forming the individual plates. The sections forming alternate plates are arranged at an angle to each other, preferably at substantiallyright angles. In the form illustrated, each`plate is made up of four sections, the

" two inner sections being substantially mirror images of each'otherfand the two outer sections being likewise substantially mirror images of each other. 5

tical cylindrical shell `10 of a fractionatingv sections.. At their endsthe plate sections 13 -and 17a substantially paralleling the rows of rically is ose withrespect to a median line Y which openings 22 serve as seats for the over The center sections of the plates are de-b signated by the numerals 13 and 13. These sections are formed at their sides with-downwardly projecting ilanges 14, cut away at their ends topermit the plate sections to rest on the supporting flanges 12. Suitable bolt holes are provided in the flanges 14, whereby the ad3acent sections 13 and 13 may be secured together, and at their outer margins secured to the adj acent plate sections. Each of the plate sections 13 and 13 is provided witha number of upwardly projecting nipples 15, preferably of substantially rectangular shape. These projecting nipples provide4 for the passage of gas from the vapor space below the plate sections to that above 1t, and each of the nipples is provided with a substantially rectangular bubble-cap 16, the lower edge of which is suitably serrated as at 16a. The nipples 15 and'caps 16 may4 be so arranged as to provide aplurality of rows of bubble-caps substantially evenly spaced from one another, the rows extending substantially transversely across the plate and 13a are formed with upwardly projecting dams 17 and 17, so arranged that when the sections are properly; placed, a pool 18. is formed, the wall thereof formed by dams 17 bubble-caps 16, these dams being formed, with raised side portions 17 to guide the liquid and restrain its low. One such pool 18 isformed at each end ofthe plate, and these pools receive the liquid reflux discharged from the next plate above, in the manner hereinafter set forth. The pools 18 suitably include an area extending the width ofthe center sections, from which pools the overow from the next plate above is distributed` between the bubble-caps. On opposite sides of the assembled center sections 13 and 13 areprovided the segmental sections 2,0 and 20, which may likewise be substantially mirror images of each other. Theplate sections 20 and 20a are provided on the side forming the chord of the are with downwardly depending flanges 21, by which connection may be made with the flanges 14.- on the outer margins of the center plates. Openin s are rovi'ded, preferably symmetloo transverse y across the assembled plate,A

, with bubble-caps 25, of the same type as the bubble-caps 16 or of generally similar type, likewise preferably arranged symmetrically with respect to a transverse median line through the assembled plates. These bubblecaps are so disposed with reference to the pools A18 as to balile and subdivide the portion of thec'overflow streaming over the sides of 'thepools 18 into streams of substantially the same size as those formed by the bubble-caps 16. -Deflectors 25 may likewise bevprovided to aid in an even distribution of the overflow.

Around the outer margins of the sections 20 and 20a there are provided upwardlyextending flanges or ribs 26, and atvthe outer c ends of the'sections'13'and 13R, the upwardly extending ,flanges -or ribs 27 are provided.

These upwardly extending ianges togetherform a rim' around'the lassembled plate, and? in thecenterplate sections 13 and 13d, they also form an outer wall for the pool of ref lux held back by'dams 17 and 17 To aid inholding'the bubble-caps in their proper positions, angular lugs 28 are securedto the upwardly extending flanges 26 of the plate sections 20 and 20, and straps 29, suitably of angleiron, are extended transversely across the ltops ofthe assembled plates, these stra s passing, under the lugs 28. r They are hel in positionby any. suitable means, for example, the pins 30 passing through suitable openings in the lugs 28 and the ends of'A the straps 29.

The plate sections forming each plate of the column are suitably arranged at an angle 'of approximately 909 with respect to those above and belowit. `Thus, in Fig. 5, for example, three clearly shown 1n that lligure, the sections 'forming the center plate, designatedB, ,lie at right angles to those of the upper and lower. plates designated A and Crespectively. Asa result of this arrangement, the overflow pipes arranged in, the plate sections 2O and 20* of any selected plate, for vexample the plate C, extend into the pool 18 formed in tbeI ends of the center sections 13 and 13l of the "next lower plate (plate B in the example illustrated). The nipples for the passage` of vapors and the bubble-caps 16 and 25 of each assembled plate are alpreferably arranged to dim'bute substanti )I .uniformly `the overflow liquid passing'over the dams 17 and 17 plates are illustrated. As

plates. In thei'forlnI illustrated, the bubblecaps 25 and deflectors 25 balile and similarly distribute the flow of overflow liquid from the sides of the pools 18. Asa result of the arrangement ofthe bubble-caps the liquid is caused to travel' in approximately uniform streams -around and between the bubble-caps to the central portionof the plate, there joining-the flowing to the oppositely disposed ovcrow pipes. This course is indicated on Fig. fl ofthe drawings by arrows. The depth of the stream of overflow liquid is greater toward the center of the'plate, and'decreases toward the outer plates. In order to prevent' channeling the center bubble-caps are raised by shims 16, The shimslb are inserted between twlower caps and straps 29.

The'iianholes 11 of the outer shell of the column or tower are sulliciently large to permit the insertion of the individual sections forming-the plates 0f the tower. Figures 2 and 3 show diagrammatically the relative arrangement withili the tower of successive plates, the parts shown diagrammatically being indicated by the same reference numerals as the corresponding Vparts in the more detailed drawings.

F or convenience the invention has been described in connection with a tower-of circular cross section, and with the plates made up of four sections. It is readily understood vthat the form of the tower and the number of sections of which the individual plates are ormed'may be varied as desired.. The specific details of the form Iof construction set forth are not to be regarded as' limitations upon the scope of;y the'invention except as in so far as included in the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. In a fractionating plate of the bubble type, dams at opposite ends of said plate forming pools for the reception of overliow liquid from higher plates, vapor uptakes and bubble-caps between sai'd dams, said bubbleoverow means oppositely disposed on said plate ona median line between said dams.

2. Ina fractionating plate of the bubble type, dams atjopposite ends'y of said plate forming poolsfor the reception of overflow liquid from higher plates, overflow means disposed on a. median line between said .dams and vapor uptakes and bubble-caps on said plate on each sideof said"median line, said j* ubble-caps being disposed to divide into ,substantially equalxstreams the overflow liq- "-uid issuing from the poolsy formed by sa'id .dams.

3. In a fractionatin'g plate of the bubble type, dams at opposite'ends of said plate yforming pools for the reception of `overflow liquidlfrom higher plates, overliow means disp posed symmetrical relation to a median forming the pools 18 at the ends of the center hne between said dams and vapor' caps being substantially evenly spaced, and I and substantially rectangular bubble-caps disposed on each side of said median line and spaced to substantially evenly subdivide the overflow liquid issuing from the pools formed by said dams.

'4. A raetionating tower provided internally with spaced supporting flanges, fractionating plates, each comprising a plurality of sections resting at their outer margins .on one of said annular flanges, each of said s eclions being provided adjacent the next seetion with dowi-iwa-rdly depending flanges, and means for securing together the downwardly depending flanges oi adjacent sections of said plates.

-5. 'A fractionating tower provided internally with vertically spaced annular flanges, fractionating plates each comprising a plurality of sections, resting at their outer Inargins on one of said annular flanges, each of said sections being provided adjacent the next section with downwardly depending flanges,

, .means for securing together the downwardly depending flanges of adjacent plate sections, the tower being provided with openings near said plates for the insertion and removal oi the plate sections.

6. A fractionating tower provided internally with spaced horizontal annular flanges, fraetionating platesof the bubble type, each having overflow openings at opposite ends thereof in fixed relation to a median line therethrough, a free passage between said oppositely arranged openings, a plurality of elongated bubble-caps on either side of said free passage forming a pluralityof liquid channels at right angles to said median line, adjacent plates being arranged with said median lines angularly disposed with reference to one another.

'7. Ina fractionating plate having an opening with steeply tapering sides, an overflow pipe extending through said opening, said overflow pipe being provided exterior-ly with a projecting shoulder having tapered sides adapted to seat within said opening.

8. A ractionating plate having an opening with steeply tapered sides, a conical, downwardly tapering, overflow pipe extending through said opening, said overflow pipe beingrprovided exterior-ly near its top with an annular projecting shoulder having tapered sides adapted to seat within the opening in the plate.

9. In a fractionating plate, means for maintaining oppositely disposed pools on said plate for receiving overflow from plates above,\vapor uptakes and bubble-caps ar# ranged adjacent each pool maintaining means to guide the overflow from the pools to a central area and means for guiding the overflow from such central area to the plate below.

10. In a fraetionating plate, means for maintaining oppositely disposed pools on said plate for receiving overflow from plates above, vapor uptakes and equidistant rectangular bubble-caps arranged adjacent each pool maintaing means to guide the overflow in substantially equal streams to a central area, and overflows provided from such central area to the plate below.

ROBERT E. WILSON. ROGER D. HUNNEMAN. WILLIAM H. BAHLKE. FRANCIS M. ROGERS. 

